Mini-flora rose plant named ‘SAVorockies’

ABSTRACT

‘SAVorockies’ is a new and distinct variety of Mini-Flora rose plant noted for its strong, sweet fragrance, attractive, fully double flowers, and above average disease resistance. Flowers of various shades of apricot-pink last well on the plant. A mature plant can be almost constantly in bloom during the growing season.

Genus and species: Rosa hybrida.

Varietal denomination: ‘SAVorockies’.

CROSS REFERENCE

This current invention is a bushy and upright growing variety of rose plant of the Mini-Flora Class. With its apricot-pink, double flowers it closely resembles ‘SAVapam’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,329), the pollen parent of this new invention and from this same breeding program. Though flowers are very similar in color and form, they are easily distinguished, as noted in Table 1 below.

New Invention - ‘SAVorockies’ ‘SAVapam’ Flower Apricot-Pink with russet Pink Blend, various Color tones of Scarlet, azalea-pink shades including and Shell-pink, in the newly Shell-pink, Orient-pink opening flower, and Salmon-pink. Aging Gradually loses all the yellow Retains the yellow in the Properties tone in the flower petals coloring so it finishes more of before they drop from the of a peachy-pink; petals Flowers plant, leaving only pink and do not take on a blush. white with a red blush. Flower Generally there are 32 to 36 Generally there are 27 to Form petals. Starts with flat 32 petals. Upper profile upper profile, which is flat from opening to gradually becomes somewhat fade. arched. Fragrance Strong Moderate

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This new invention relates to a new and distinct variety of hardy, bush type plant of the Mini-Flora rose class. This variety was developed by myself, Wendy R. White, under controlled conditions in a greenhouse in Rowley, Mass., by crossing the following two rose cultivars:

-   -   an unnamed and unintroduced seedling from this same breeding         program as seed parent     -   ‘SAVapam’ as pollen parent.         The new plant was selected as a seedling in the mid-winter         of 2003. In the fall of 2003, it was shipped to Arroyo Grande,         Calif. where it was grown in a plastic covered greenhouse for 6         years, before being moved outside in December of 2008. In April         of 2009, it was shipped to Ipswich, Mass. where it continues         growing outside in a large 5 gallon plastic bucket.

The idyllic goals of this breeding program were to create unique diminutive roses with the qualities of disease resistance, hardiness, and having fragrant, hybrid-tea form blooms, born in abundance from late spring through late fall. The cultivar chosen as seed parent was a rose of the miniature class and had very fragrant flowers, born in abundance. The cultivar chosen as pollen parent is a Mini-Flora rose with moderate fragrance and is known for its vigor, hardiness and excellent disease resistance. The resulting new cultivar is a prolific bloomer and has a strong fragrance, similar to that of its seed parent, and is a Mini-Flora rose with vigor, hardiness and disease resistance almost as good as its pollen parent.

Comparison between the new invention and its parents is shown in Table 2.

New Invention - Seed Parent - Pollen Parent - ‘SAVorockies’ Seedling ‘SAVapam’ Of the Mini-Flora Of the miniature Of the Mini-Flora rose class rose class rose class Flowers of apricot- Lavender-pink Flowers of various shades pink with russet tones; colored flowers. of a pink blend: including gradually losing all shell-pink, Orient- yellow tonality. pink and salmon-pink. 32-36 petals 15-18 petals 27-32 petals Strong fragrance Strong fragrance Moderate fragrance Height of 22 to Height of 15 to Height of 26 to 34 inches 18 inches 32 inches. Petals age some Petals age consider- Petals drop before eventually ably and drop after from the fading bloom, dropping cleanly an extended period promptly and cleanly of time

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This present invention relates to a new distinct variety of hardy, bush type rose plant of the Mini-Flora class. The characteristics distinguishing it from its parents and from all other varieties of which I am aware are its unique combination of pink blend, double flowers, averaging 2¾ inches across, having hybrid tea form, and a strong, sweet fragrance. The variety is further characterized by:

-   -   an abundance of these flowers borne singly, and in loose sprays         of single-borne and small-cluster borne flowers     -   flowers opening slowly and lasting a long time on the plant     -   dark green, semi-glossy foliage     -   a plant with above average disease resistance     -   a plant that is suitable for soft wood production in pots     -   a plant that grows and blooms satisfactorily both in the         greenhouse and outdoors, providing fragrant decoration in the         garden as a specimen plant, as a low hedge, or in large         containers

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying color photograph, taken in May, is an image of a plant of this new invention, growing in a container in an artificial soil mix. In this image buds and flowers can be seen in different stages of development. Old and new growth may also be seen (much of the oldest foliage dropped when the plant was allowed to become too dry but there are plenty of mature leaves visible).

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

Unless otherwise noted, the following observations, measurements, values and comparisons describe this 6-year-old plant of Rosa hybrida ‘SAVorockies’, of the Mini-Flora rose class. The plant was grown in artificial soil-mix in a plastic covered greenhouse for 6 years, before being moved outside in Arroyo Grande, Calif. in December of 2008. In April of 2009, it was shipped to Ipswich, Mass. where it has been kept outside, except for brief protection from unaccustomed cold. The detailed description is presented below in outline format. Color references are made using The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, except where common terms of color are used.

FLOWERS

-   Blooming habit: Flowers open slowly; fast repeat. -   Borne: Initially singly; then on long stems in loose sprays of 5 or     more, flowers are borne singly and occasionally in small clusters of     2 or 3; on shorter stems in loose sprays of 3 to 5. -   Bud: Broadly ovate, most often 17/32 inch long and 15/32 inch wide,     varying between 31/64 and 35/64 inch long and 28/64 and 33/64 inch     wide before the sepals divide. -   Sepals: (These observations were taken from mature flowers after the     petals had dropped.) Permanently attached to the receptacle, rolling     back to or almost to the stem as the flower opens, moving slightly     away from the stem as the hip forms and matures.     -   -   Size.—Extend beyond the tip of the bud by 15/32 to 27/32             inch, the longer lengths on the larger buds, which are             usually borne singly. Widths are most commonly 11/32 and             12/32 inch, varying from 11/32 to 13/32 inch; lengths vary             from 29/32 to 1 4/32 inches, averaging about 1 inch.         -   Color.—Outer surface: outer sepals near 138A; inner sepals             between 138A and 143A with the centers flushed heavily with             a reddish-purple, between 175A and 187A. Inner surfaces are             near 160B in the center and between 137B and 147B bordering             the margins.         -   Texture.—Outer surface — semi-glossy, becoming matte,             especially along the margins, as they mature; stipitate             glands dot the surfaces, varying in quantity from few to             many, and usually in parallel rows; on the inner sepals they             are found mostly down the center of the surface with few or             none toward the margins. Texture inner surface — fine             pubescence.         -   Shape.—Outer sepals are acuminate with acicular apices.             Inner sepals are ovate.         -   Margins.—Outer sepals have one to four foliar appendages             along each margin and entirely lined with stipitate glands             that are tipped with a dark Cardinal Red, near 53A. Inner             sepals have ciliate margins and no foliar appendages. -   Receptacle:     -   -   Form.—Conical.         -   Color.—Medium yellow-green, between 144B and 144A, lightly             flushed on the sunward side with near 187A; as it matures             the cyanine coloring disappears.         -   Surface.—Glabrous, becoming slightly pubescent toward the             peduncle.         -   Diameter.— 3/16 inch where it connects to the peduncle,             becoming 7/16 inch where it connects to the receptacle. -   Bloom:     -   -   Size when fully expanded.—Width varies from 2 7/16 to 3 1/16             inches, and not symmetrically round by 2/16 to 3/16 inch.             Depths vary from 1 5/16 to 2 inches, with depth relative to             diameter.         -   Form.—Begins with a flattened upper profile, which gradually             becomes arcuate and flattened again when full open. Lower             profile begins cupped and becomes convex.         -   Petal counts.—Varied from 25 to 41 with 1 to 11 petaloids,             petaloid counts are not relative to petal counts.         -   Fragrance.—Strong, sweet.         -   Lasting time on plant.—2 weeks or more from opening bud to             full open bloom. -   Petals:     -   -   Arrangement.—Imbricated.         -   Thickness.—Medium with excellent substance.         -   Texture.—Satiny surfaces, both adaxial and abaxial.         -   Size of outermost petals on the full open bloom.—Widths             varied from 1 7/32 to 1 12/32 inches. Lengths varied from 1             4/32 to 1 11/32.         -   Shape.—Outer petals are oblate to broadly spatulate with             arcuate margins, curling under forming an apparent triangle;             apices are acute most often with a notch on each side,             sometimes causing the margin to be ruffled; bases are             broadly obtuse. Intermediate petals are spatulate, with             rounded margins that may be entire, and elliptical bases.             Inner petals are obovate, with broadly oval margins and             cordate bases; apices are similar to those on the outer             petals but are less pronounced. -   Petals — color:     -   -   General tonality.—Apricot-pink blend; general tonality from             a distance — Light apricot-pink and dark apricot-pink             bicolor.         -   When sepals first divide.—A red between 43B and 45D.         -   During the first few days.—Outer petals. Upper surface is             Claret Rose, near 50B along margins, gradually blending into             a Scarlet Red, near 43D, and becoming a deep Lemon Yellow,             near 13A, at base and point of attachment; there may be             streaks of white, near 157C, or of very light green, near             147C, along the main and other veins. Reverse is mostly near             43C with streaks of the colors seen when the sepals first             divided; basal area is a lighter yellow between 18B and 14D;             point of attachment is a Chartreuse Green near 154C. Inner             petals. Upper surface is lighter, a Shell Pink between 37B             and 38B, with basal area and point of attachment near 13B.             Reverse is near 43D, with basal area and point of attachment             a light Primrose Yellow near 4C. -   Petals—variable colors: It seems a well-fertilized plant shows more     yellow tones. As the blooms open, nutrition plays a noticeable role     in the hues of the blooms.     -   -   With lower nutrient levels.—The outer five petals become             more pink, a Neyron Rose near 55B on both surfaces, with             outer edges near 55A. Intermediate petals are a bit lighter,             near 55C. Inner petals show yellow tones and are Peach, near             29D, with near 43B along the margins.         -   When grown at higher nutrient levels.—The five outer petals             are more of a Jasper Red, between 39C and 39B, with outer             edges flushed red, between 46D and 46C. Other petals are a             light Peach near 29D and are more of an Apricot-Peach             towards the center of the bloom; outer edges may be flushed             with 46D. As the blooms continue to open more of the area             along the margins becomes flushed with the darker colors;             the yellow tones begin to fade away.         -   On full blown blooms most of the yellow tones are             gone.—First full open blooms were observed with outer petals             of a very light French Rose between 49D and 155A and edges             were a Venetian Pink near 49C, blushed with between 52C and             58C, with basal area near 11D and point of attachment near             8C; the reverse appeared near 55C with basal area near 155D             and point of attachment near 4C; Intermediate petals were a             Carmine Rose near 52C with near 58C on the outer edges and             all surfaces exposed to the sun; the basal area was whiter             than 155D and point of attachment was a very light yellow,             near 158A; the reverse appeared near 52D, with basal area             near 158A and point of attachment near 2D. Inner petals —             same coloring as intermediate petals except with basal area             near 155D and point of attachment near 158C on the upper             surface and basal area near 155D and point of attachment             near 158D on the reverse.         -   Later in the season, after additions of fertilizer, colors             were noted somewhat darker in the full blown blooms.—Outer             petals, upper surface was noted between 49D and 49C with             edges lightly flushed with near 59A, Ruby Red, and basal             area and point of attachment near 1D; reverse may be a very             pale pink, near 56C, with a deep Rhodonite Red, near 51A,             along the margins, and a basal area and point of attachment             near 1D; Also noted on another bloom on the same plant on             the same day: the upper surface was near 56C, near 51A along             the margins, with the basal area and point of attachment             were near 2C; the reverse was noted as near 49C, flushed a             bit lighter, between 52B and 51A, with veins near 56D, no             discernible basal area and point of attachment was near 1D.         -   As the bloom continues to age.—Petal surfaces continue to             lighten and blushing intensifies on areas exposed to the             sun, to a medium red near 45D, 52D or somewhere in between,             being darkest along the edges and blending into the near             white of the petals with streaks and freckles. -   Petaloids:     -   -   Color.—Same as the inner petals.         -   Shape.—Deformed petals from cleft to only half a petal with             the main vein along one margin, and bases may be as narrow             as to be considered stipes.         -   Size.—Widths were measured from 10/32 to 22/32 inch and             lengths were measured from 11/32 to 1 2/32 inches.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Androecium:     -   -   Stamens.—Regularly arranged inside and adjacent to the             perianth, Quantity — numerous, usually between 130 and 160.         -   Filaments.—Length — about 3/16 inch. The top is Cadmium             Orange, near 23A; the middle is suffused with Indian Orange,             near 32A; the base is a translucent white.         -   Anthers.—Color — near 23A. -   Gynoecium:     -   -   Pistils.—Originate in the center of top of the receptacle.             Quantity — about half as many as stamens.         -   Styles.—Thin, curving or undulating slightly. Translucent,             white at the base, cherry red near the top.         -   Stigmas.—Translucent, near white. -   Hips: Mature hips not observed.     -   -   Shape.—Enlarging hypanthium indicate the form will be             pear-shape. Seeds were starting to protrude from the top of             some of the forming hips.

PLANT

-   Habit: Upright, well and uniformly branched. Flowers held above     plant canopy. Flowers borne initially singly; as buds develop, long     flowering stems initiate from nodes below the bud, forming loose     sprays; each flowing stem within the spray usually bears one bud,     occasionally a small cluster of 2 or 3; in turn, as buds develop on     the lowest stems in these sprays, flowering stems initiate from     nodes beneath them. New canes originates from the base at the     ground. -   Growth: Vigorous growth.     -   -   Healthy.—Very good resistance to blackspot, downy mildew and             rust; above average resistance to powdery mildew.         -   Height.—Of 22 to 34 inches.         -   Width.—Of 24 to 34 inches.         -   Root initiation from cuttings.—3 to 7 days. -   Foliage: Pinnately compound with 5 -7 leaflets, occasionally 3.     -   -   Size.—Mature leaf — 4⅝ to 5⅞ inches, regardless of number of             leaflets. Mature terminal leaflet — 1 11/16 to 2¼ inches             long, 1 3/32 to 1⅜ inches wide.         -   Shape.—Narrow ovate with acute apices and oval bases.         -   Appearance.—Upper surface — semi-glossy, main vein entirely             recessed and primary lateral veins noticeably recessed,             decreasing toward the margin. Lower surface — matte, main             vein protrudes entirely, primary lateral veins protruding             somewhat, decreasing toward the margins.         -   Texture.—Upper surface — glabrous. Lower surface — glabrous             when young, becoming slightly leathery when mature.         -   Margins.—Fine and near even serration. -   Foliage—color:     -   -   New foliage.—Upper surface — anthocyanin coloration is             strong, margins near 187A; surface begins near 137C or 137D             flushed with near 187A; as degree of flushing lessens, the             green darkens to near 147A. Lower surface — near 137D,             flushing with near 187C is lighter and in sporadic areas.         -   Old foliage.—Anthocyanin coloring is absent. Upper surface             is darker than between 147A and 136A. Lower surface — near             147B. -   Petioles:     -   -   Length.—Varies from 11/16 to 1 3/16 inches, not relative to             leaf length.         -   Girth.—Uniformly 3/32 inch.         -   Color on young leaf.—Upper surface — near 187A along the             ridge; near 183A in the grooves. Lower surface — near 187D.         -   Color on old leaf.—Upper surface — as leaflet surface,             darker than between 147A and 136A. Lower surface — between             146D and 144B. -   Rachis:     -   -   Color.—Same as petioles.         -   Length.— 9/16 to 1 25/64 inches.         -   Girth.— 5/64 inch at the base, usually tapering to 3/64 inch             toward the terminal leaflet. -   Petiolules:     -   -   Color.—Same as petioles.         -   Length.—To terminal leaflet — Varying from 12/16 to 15/16             inch. Petiolules to basal leaflets — varying from 3/32 to             7/32 inch. Petiolules to other leaflets — varying from 5/64             to 7/64 and lengths in a pair often differing by up to 1/32             inch. -   Stipules: Paired at the base of each petiole. Lengths vary from     10/32 to 15/32 inch attached and 5/32 to 9/32 inch angled outward,     most often, at 45° from the petiole. Lengths within each pair may     differ by none to 3/32 inch. Margins appear entire and ciliate.     -   -   Color.—The same as the ridges of the petiole which they are             attached. -   Wood:     -   -   Color.—New wood — a medium green, near 137C. Old wood —             darker, between 137A and 147B.         -   Texture.—New wood — glabrous; semi-glossy. Old wood —             usually glabrous.         -   Main canes.—Diameters at the base varied from 15/32 to 22/32             inch. On young plants less than one year old. Diameters of             main canes varied from 7/32 to 9/32 inch. Main canes may             have 15 nodes.         -   Flowering stems.—Diameters at the base were 5/32 to 6/32             inch, tapering to 4/32 inch toward the pedicel, and             increasing by 1/64 inch to attach to the pedicel. Lengths             depend how far down they originate, varying from 2 to 9             inches. -   Pedicel:     -   -   Color.—Scheele's Green, near 144B, flushed on the sunward             side with near near 178A. Becomes a medium yellow-green,             near 146B, as it matures and cyanine coloring disappear.         -   Surface.—Covered with fine fuzz and numerous, minute             prickles.         -   Length/diameter.—On main canes and primary laterals — 2⅛             inches long; diameter 3/16 inch below the receptacle,             tapering to 2/16 connecting to the stem. On secondary             laterals — 1 6/8-1⅞ inches long; diameter 4/32 inch below             the receptacle, tapering to 3/32 connecting to the stem. On             tertiary laterals — 1⅝ inches long; diameter 9/64- 8/64 inch             below the receptacle, tapering to 7/64 connecting to the             stem. -   Lenticels: Begin forming in the 3^(rd) or 4^(th) year, on only one     side of the canes. Run parallel, vertically, gradually increasing in     width; they have not been observed to cover more than ⅕ of the total     cane diameter.     -   -   Color.—Medium brown, near 177C. -   Example of cane development: New cane originating from the base of     the plant at the ground was 10 inches long to the peduncle. As the     bud began to form, primary laterals began growth from the upper 8 of     the 15 nodes on the cane. Before that bud opened, each primary     lateral grew somewhat higher than the bud on the main cane to which     it was attached, forming a large, loose spray. Diameters of primary     laterals varied from 4/32 to 5/32 inch; lengths of developing     primary laterals ranged from about 2 inches to about 9 inches,     depending on how far down the main cane they originated. Buds on     laterals that originated toward the top of the cane developed     quicker than those on laterals originating lower down on the cane.     The lowest two primary laterals have 3 and 5 leaflet leaves; the     remainder of the laterals have only 2 and 3 leaflet leaves. The     lowest two primary laterals initiated secondary laterals just as     their buds begin to form. The 9 inch lateral had 8 nodes; the 6 inch     lateral had 7 nodes; the remainder of the laterals, 5 inches or     shorter, had 5 to 3 nodes, with quantity of nodes relative to length     of the lateral. Observations of the mature plant give indication     this is typical growth for this cultivar. -   Prickles:     -   -   Quantity.—On main stalks — none. On laterals — 2 or 3             between nodes, regardless of spacing of nodes. On rachis —             usually 3 on abaxial crest. On peduncle — numerous minute             prickles.         -   Form.—Upper profile curves slightly or slants downward;             lower profile is cowl-shaped; tapers to a point.         -   Length.—On laterals — between 6/32 and 9/32 inch. On pedicel             — 1/64 to 2/64 inch.         -   Color.—When young — near 53A. On mature growth — near 177C;             on mature pedicels, still near 153A. 

1. A new and distinct variety of hardy rose plant of the Mini-Flora rose class is claimed, substantially as illustrated and described, characterized particularly as to novelty by the strong sweet fragrance, the distinctive coloring of its blooms, the lasting quality of its blooms on the plant, and its above average resistance to diseases. 